Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations
Covered : Mumbai - Nashik - Khajuraho - Pune
Day
01 : International Arrival Arrive Mumbai. You will be met on
arrival and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mumbai
city. Overnight at hotel.
Mumbai
(Bombay), the gateway to India in the days of the Raj, is today India's
commercial capital. The city dates back to around the first century AD when
the area consisted of seven islands separated by the sea. In 1661 the
Portuguese presented the port and islands of Mumbai to the British. In 1668
The East India Company leased all of the Islands of Mumbai from the British
Govt. for £10.00 in gold per year. On independence in 1947 the Mumbai
presidency became Mumbai state, and subsequently Mumbai became the state
capital of Maharashtra.
Mumbai is a fascinating crossroad of the
east and west where the sophistication and technology of the first world is
combined with the eastern ability to sell almost anything against a backdrop
of color, scents and sounds. Besides being the major port of India this
cosmopolitan city with eight million population is the fastest moving, most
affluent and most industrialized city in India. It is India's financial,
commercial and industrial center, and the center of the film industry.
MUMBAI
CITY TOUR:On Mumbai city tour you drive along the Marine Drive,
famous as the Queen's necklace, and Chowpatty Beach and pass by 'Towers of
Silence' of the Parsis, who settled in Mumbai in 1670. Places of interest
include the Hanging Gardens (in Kamala Nehru Park on the slopes of Malabar
Hills, offering a panoramic view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach, a view
especially enchanting at night), the Prince of Wales Museum, Dhobi Ghat and
Mani Bhawan. We also drive through the Crawford Market.
GATEWAY
OF INDIA:Gateway of India was built in 1911-1914-18 to commemorate
the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Formerly the viceroys of
India were received here and in 1948 the last British troop left this soil
through its portals.
The arch is in Muslim style while the
decorations are Hindu. The stone was obtained locally and the perforated
screens were brought from Gwalior. Architecturally it is a conventional Arch
de Triumph. Near this Gateway, there is a statue of Shivaji, the 17th
century founder of the independent Hindu Kingdom of Maharashtra.
MANI
BHAWAN:Mani Bhawan is the house where Mahatama Gandhi, the father
of the nation, spent a number of years and which has now been converted into
a museum highlighting the dramatic events in Gandhi's life through beautiful
displays.
Day 02 : Mumbai Morning visit
to the Elephanta Caves. Afternoon free.
The Elephanta caves are
situated on an island about six miles from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. These
are four rock cut temples from between 450 and 750 AD. They were originally
called the Gharapuri, the `fortress city'. The Portuguese renamed them
Elephanta from the elephant like large stone on the landing place.
Elephanta's size and beauty, and the power of its sculptures is impressive.
There is one main cave with a number of large sculptured panels and
bas-reliefs all relating to the Lord Shiva. The centerpiece is a massive 18
ft three headed bust of Lord Shiva.
Day 03 :
Mumbai Morning visit to Kanheri Caves. Afternoon free.
Day
04 : Mumbai to Nashik Depart by road from Mumbai to Nashik, a
journey of about four hours. Overnight at hotel Quality Inn Regency
(Standard Room).
Day 05 : Nashik to Aurangabad
Depart by road from Nashik to Aurangabad, a journey of about four to
five hours. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Aurangabad city. Overnight at
hotel Ajanta Ambassador for three nights (Standard Room).
Aurangabad
is the base from which to visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves. A tour of the
city includes Bibi Ka Maqbara, the tomb of the wife of the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb, said to be modeled on the Taj Mahal.
Day
06 : Aurangabad Full day visit to Ajanta Caves.
The Ajanta
caves are situated 102kms from Aurangabad and pre-date those of Ellora.
Dating from the 2nd century BC Ajanta recounts the life of Lord Buddha in
the form of paintings. Although the dominant theme of the caves is
religious, they also give an insight into the way of life at that time. A
British officer on a hunting expedition only discovered these caves 150
years ago.
Day 07 : Aurangabad Full day
visit to Ellora Caves
The Ellora Caves are 30kms from Aurangabad. Here
the Temples date from the 4th to 9th centuries AD, and unlike Ajanta are not
exclusively Buddhist, but also honor the Jain and Hindu faiths.
Day
08 : Aurangabad to Pune Depart by road from Aurangabad to Pune, a
journey of about six hours. You may like to stop at Piathan Fort, Parenda
Fort and Ahmednagar. Overnight at hotel Sagar Plaza for two nights (Standard
Room).
Day 09 : Pune Full day visit
Pune, Sinhagad and Raigad.
Day 10 : Pune to Mumbai
Depart by road from Pune to Mumbai, a journey of about six hours.
Overnight at hotel Fariyas (Standard Room).
Day
11 : International Departure Transfer from hotel to Mumbai
international airport for your flight home
Cities
in Rajasthan
